Purported Facebook threat at Emma Sansom Middle School under investigation

Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 12:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 6:04 p.m.

An extra police officer was watching Emma Sansom Middle School on Thursday because of threatening comments purportedly posted by a seventh-grader on Facebook, according to school officials.

On a Facebook page with his name, the student reportedly said, “My KKK homies will invade tomorrow, with bombs” and “bringing a gun to school tomorrow, with my KKK homies.”

Gadsden Police Capt. Bobby Jackson said the student does not have Internet access at home, and he is unsure if the student posted the threats or if it was someone else. The seventh-grader lives with his grandmother.

Jackson said authorities will look into the originating IP address for the threatening post to help determine who made it, but declined further comment because the investigation is ongoing.

Emma Sansom Middle Principal Sharon Maness said the student was not at school Thursday, and that everything had been taken care of on campus.

“The police are just here for the convenience of the parents,” Maness said. “(They’re here) to make the students and the parents feel comfortable.”

Gadsden City Schools Superintendant Ed Miller said the main focus is on safety and catching whoever is behind this, student or otherwise.

“We’re going to take every precaution to make sure every school is safe,” Miller said. “Once the investigation concludes, we will make sure the consequences of their actions will be dealt with firmly, either by policy or through the legal system.”

<p>An extra police officer was watching Emma Sansom Middle School on Thursday because of threatening comments purportedly posted by a seventh-grader on Facebook, according to school officials.</p><p>On a Facebook page with his name, the student reportedly said, “My KKK homies will invade tomorrow, with bombs” and “bringing a gun to school tomorrow, with my KKK homies.” </p><p>Gadsden Police Capt. Bobby Jackson said the student does not have Internet access at home, and he is unsure if the student posted the threats or if it was someone else. The seventh-grader lives with his grandmother.</p><p>Jackson said authorities will look into the originating IP address for the threatening post to help determine who made it, but declined further comment because the investigation is ongoing.</p><p>Emma Sansom Middle Principal Sharon Maness said the student was not at school Thursday, and that everything had been taken care of on campus.</p><p>“The police are just here for the convenience of the parents,” Maness said. “(They're here) to make the students and the parents feel comfortable.”</p><p>Gadsden City Schools Superintendant Ed Miller said the main focus is on safety and catching whoever is behind this, student or otherwise.</p><p>“We're going to take every precaution to make sure every school is safe,” Miller said. “Once the investigation concludes, we will make sure the consequences of their actions will be dealt with firmly, either by policy or through the legal system.”</p>